The other day I wrote that we need to recognize good service. Following that I received the following email.

Hi Don,
Reminder, you referred me to EP Furniture. The attached letter speaks for itself. Hope you can post it on CC, below is body you can copy/paste.
Larry

15 junio 2015

Lic. Alexis Ortega
ACODECO Director, Chiriquí Province
David, Panama

Lic. Ortega,

I am sure that nearly all of your work is handling consumer complaints. My issue is the opposite — I wish to register a vendor compliment.

Last October, I purchased a dining table and two chairs from EP Furniture in David. Then shipped them to my home in Isla Bocas.

In April, I observed that one chair was severely damaged, coming apart at wood joints.
This type damage could only be the result of a factory defect, not from use or shipping. Checking my receipt, I read that my 3-month Guarantee had ended months before.

This chair being part of a 3-piece set, I had to have a matching replacement. In May, I went to EP in David to plead my case in words and photos, hoping to at least get a replacement at cost.

Sra, Marisol Somoza De Mat, EP General Administrator in David, unhesitatingly offered that she would happily replace the chair. For free! A few days ago, we exchanged chairs; my replacement chair is in perfect condition.

I am not a big, repeat customer of EP. This small purchase was my first. The only incentive Sra. Marisol’s had to serve me, long after any contract obligation, was her willingness to do the right thing. Such outstanding character notes recognition.

Sra. Marisol and EP have earned my personal appreciation and continuing loyalty. I hope my experience encourages you also to patronize EP.

When you get good service, you need to reward it. I seem to run into poor service more often than good service.

The event that brought on this current observation is poor communications from Multiservicios International De Chiriquí, my “getting ready to be” ex mail forwarding provider.

I received an email from my credit card company stating that they had sent out a new card and I had not activated it. I started checking my address change and noticed something.

Last November I posted this photo which was taped to a box in the office.
in this post.

Later Multiservicios International De Chiriquí (MIDC) sent out this email, which I posted in this post.

Dear Valued Customer:
As part of the move to our new facility the USPS has assigned PakYA a unique firm number that will help sort and process your shipments to us. This zip+4 is also used by all courier companies to sort packages. It is very important that going forward you use the zip+4 format when addressing your shipments.
Effective immediately our zip+4 code is: 33166-9155
Please note that we will move to our new location on February 1st 2015. Shipments scheduled for delivery as of this date should be address as follows:
[Your Account Name/Company Name]
7950 NW 77 ST, C4
[Your Account #]
Medley, FL 33166-9155

One of Lilliam’s many hobbies is sewing. Yesterday she wanted to go downtown to buy some fabric at Los Tejidos, which is across from Parque Cervantes. Click HERE for a Google Map. Obviously the location shown on the map didn’t come out completely correct, because the store is not in the Park, but directly across the street on the opposite end of the block from Romero’s.

Anytime Lilliam wants fabric, needles, thread or other sillier, it seems this is where we wind up.

She was commenting how much cheaper the fabric was here than the fabric she bought when we were in Austin last year.

I never pass up an opportunity to take a photo of a beautiful young lady. Yesterday the opportunity arose when the cashier modeled with two parakeets that I had seen caged in the store.

If you happen to stop in Los Tejidos, tell them you learned about them from Chiriquí Chatter.

There are a lot of bargains to be found in downtown David. It may be a little difficult to find a place to park, but it can be a lot of fun once you are parked.

I didn’t buy anything on this visit, but I did see the meat being processed. He was filling a large order of hamburger patties to be delivered to one of the local restaurants. He carries two types of ground meat. 80-20 for hamburgers and 90-10 when you want less fat.

They carry beef and pork ribs. You can order them without the membrane. I saw a very nice prime rib that had been aged for 14 days.

Now that I know where it is, I will be giving it a try. With all of the recommendations I have had, it has to be good.

Here is the contact information for Jorge Martinez. Contact him if you have a special order to fill and tell him you heard of Su Carne on Chiriquí Chatter.

I have looked for a good lawnmower service shop several times. I had one, but got the feeling I was being over charged and asked at Rodelag where they would recommend. They directed me to Multiservicios Díaz, which is close to Rodelag.

I have used them now for two items and I like the people that run it. They are nice friendly people and my equipment came back running well. Here is a Google Map. Their number is on the photo. If you stop in, tell them that you learned about them on Chiriquí Chatter.

I received a request to post the following. If you want to know the history of The Bookmark, you might like to read this post by it original owner.
The requested post follows:

Hello everyone,
My name is Michael Ellis, the owner of the bookstore “The Bookmark” located in Dolega. Many of you know me or at least the bookstore.

I wanted to inform everyone that The Bookmark is up for sale for $55,000 (BARGAIN). This does not include the property, only the books, furniture and of course having the honor of being the most famous bookstore in Panama.

Unfortunately, I also have a more pressing problem, I need to move the bookstore to a new location as my landlady has basically decided to move back into her house(IE my business) this upcoming month. I do have a year+ or so remaining on the lease, but, honestly it’s not worth the cost/effort/headache of going through a legal battle, which, in the end I would likely lose, being a foreigner in a foreign land (yes, that’s cynical but true).

And so, if you’re not interested in buying the business, please at least spread the word that I’m on the look-out for a rental, unfurnished, with a sq footage of approximately 500 sq meters (20X20). It wouldn’t have to be fancy, as long as I can fit around 45,000 books and shelving.

I have been to a couple outlets in David that sell Ropa Americana, but last week I went to a new one that is well laid out and has a lot of products that were well priced. I walked out with two pair of shoes.

Besides clothes I saw a lot of pillows and bedspreads.

Importadora Americana is located to the left of Revilla on the street that runs in front of Super Baru and past Romero’s and Rodelag.

Donna and Ray had notified me a while ago about a new business that they were sure I would like to see. I asked if they would mind going and taking some photos and doing a writeup because I didn’t know when I would be able to get it. They graciously accepted the request and sent me the following. Thank you Donna and Ray.

A new gallery has opened on the Via Boquete that promises to be the place to go to find fine hand crafted art.

With items from all over the world, Caesar and Antoinette can surely fill all your personal and gift needs. There are masks from Africa, paintings from Central America, leather goods, beautiful wood turnings, ceramics made in Panama, jewelry, furniture, clothing and games.

Caesar and Antoinette have the experience to make this project successful. They ran a large gallery and restaurant in Belize, then had a gallery in Naples, Florida. The store is small now, but there are plans for a larger store closer to the road that will be able to hold even more beautiful things.

Los Angeles Arts is located on the Via Boquete shortly beyond the horse stables, on the right side of the road going toward Boquete. Look for the orange sign, the gallery is set back from the road.

Caesar, Antoinette and Lucy will be pleased to welcome you.

Donna & Ray

When you stop into Los Angeles Art, tell them you learned about them from Donna and Ray and Chiriquí Chatter.

As a further strengthening of the security in our house. We replaced the original front door with a new door from Ferro Arte Chiriquí. This was custom built to the exact specifications required by us.

I couldn’t be more happy with the quality of the build or the professionalism of those involved in the installation.

I believe this door really adds a lot of beauty to the front of the house, but the door is much more than just a pretty face. This door is virtually impervious to break-in.

Not only that, but the glass you see behind, the ornamentation, opens to allow you to see who is at the front door without having to provide access to the house. It also allows for air flow through the house without having to have an ugly iron security door that many houses have.

Ferro Arte Chiriqui is owned by a young Panamanian couple. The owner worked many years in the U.S. and his English reflects the time spent there. We had priced other ornamental security doors in David, and Ferro Arte Chiriquí was the most reasonable.

They build many things besides just the security doors, including simple gates, window security bars, terrace furniture, adornment for gardens and they work with stainless steel.

Ferro Arte Chiriquí is located on Via Boquete 2 houses down from the old PTJ and on the east side of the road. their phone numbers are 774-2134 and 6651-9085. Their email address is ferroartechiriqui @ hotmail.com.

When I have a chance, I will place a Google Map.

If you drop into Ferro Arte Chiriquí, tell them you learned about them on Chiriquí Chatter.